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<p>Talents Calendar</p>
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<img alt="Alynho Haidara: U17 Africa Cup star is already on the way to the Bundesliga" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/alynho-haidara-talente-kalender-spotlight-1764850157-184271.jpg" title="Alynho Haidara: U17 Africa Cup star is already on the way to the Bundesliga">
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<p><span>©TM/CAF</span></p>
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<p>From 2008 to 2010, Aristide Bancé netted 28 goals across 67 appearances for Mainz, a period he fondly recalls as the highlight of his career. Now, 15 years later, the 41-year-old has hung up his boots but continues to play a vital role in nurturing young talent in Africa. One of his standout students is 17-year-old striker Alynho Haidara, who is set to join the 05ers next summer, thanks to Bancé’s guidance.</p>
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<p>Before turning 18, Haidara will play for FC Mayence 05 de Jacqueville, a partner club of the UEFA Conference League side. Established in 2022, this club has 50 players under 19, who not only play football but also receive a high-quality education. The academy's senior team competes in the Ivorian third division.</p>
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<p>This collaboration with Mainz began over a month ago, formalized during Haidara's signing with the Bundesliga club. Mainz's sporting director, Christian Heidel, stated, “We kept in touch with Aristide Bancé after his playing days. From the outset, we supported his ambition to create an academy. Bancé has established a remarkable initiative that primarily aims to address social issues. It allows children from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their education while engaging in football, laying a solid foundation for youth development that we find appealing at Mainz.”</p>
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<p>Haidara is the second player to emerge from the academy, following Mokesse Bamba, who currently plays for the second team in the Regionalliga Südwest (fourth division). Haidara, however, is regarded as the most promising talent and has earned a spot on the Guardian’s Next Generation list for 2025.</p>
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<img alt="Talents Calendar Day 6: Alynho Haidara" height="263" src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/newsansicht/talents-calendar-day-6-haidara-1764872689-184302.jpg?lm=1764872693" title="Talents Calendar Day 6: Alynho Haidara" width="503">
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<h2><strong>Alynho Haidara: Star at the U17 Africa Cup – Exceptionally Efficient</strong></h2>
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<p>The young striker has had an impressive season, finishing the U17 Africa Cup with 7 goals in just 6 matches, earning the Golden Boot and helping his team secure third place. Notably, he scored four goals in the opening match against the Central African Republic (6-1). His outstanding performance at the tournament led to a nomination for the CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year award, where he placed second, just behind Othmane Maamma, who triumphed at the U20 World Cup with Morocco.</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, Mainz eagerly anticipates welcoming a complete striker to their squad. “Haidara is a classic forward,” commented Bassiriki Diabaté, the Ivory Coast U17 national team coach. “He anchors our attack and is pivotal to our offensive strategy. He’s agile and can draw defenders away, particularly in a midfield that still needs physicality. He opens space, engages defenders, and maintains the offensive rhythm.”</p>
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<p>Haidara often drifts wide but possesses excellent positional awareness and has a keen instinct for scoring. He demonstrated this during the Africa Cup, scoring 7 goals with just 9 touches of the ball. He scored with his first touch on three occasions, only requiring a second touch once. His composure shines during critical moments; he converted all three penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and third-place match.</p>
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<p>These qualities are precisely what Mainz hopes to harness next season. The club views him as a potential successor to Jonathan Burkardt, who transferred to Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. While it remains uncertain whether the young talent will start with the first team, there’s no doubt his name will soon be in the spotlight. Ideally, Haidara can serve as an inspiration for the aspiring young players in Jacqueville dreaming of a professional football career.</p>
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<p><em>From December 1 to 24, we will spotlight new players from various countries born in 2008 and 2009. Area managers, users, and data scouts will contribute as experts throughout this series. You can track all these players by adding them to your TM watchlist.</em></p>
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